A noble Roman, Pietro Parentio, the deputy of the Holy See in this place, endeavored to exterminate the Patarini.

He was assassinated.[31] But Francis needed not to go even so far as Orvieto to become acquainted with heretics.

In Assisi the same things were going on as in the neighboring cities.

In 1203 this town had elected for podesta a heretic named Giraldo di Gilberto, and in spite of warnings from Rome had persisted in keeping him at the head of affairs until the expiration of his term of office (1204).

Innocent III., who had not yet been obliged to use vigor with Viterbo, resorted to persuasion and despatched to Umbria the Cardinal Leo di Santa Croce, who will appear more than once in this history.[32] The successor of Giraldo and fifty of the principal citizens made the _amende honorable_ and swore fidelity to the Church.
It is easy to perceive in what a state of ferment Italy was during these early years of the thirteenth century.